Paul Ryan

Courier-Journal political writer James R. Carroll says Danville, Kentucky and Centre College have been universally praised for the outstanding job they did hosting the recent Vice-Presidential debate. It's not often the Bluegrass State gets to share in the limelight of a hotly-contested Presidential election, but Centre's ability to land its second VP debate since 2000 has impressed politicos throughout the nation.

Even though the candidates for vice president met in Danville Thursday night, Kentucky issues such as coal and the auto industry weren’t heavily addressed. Kentucky is affected by many of the national issues that were discussed, but Vice President Joe Biden and Congressman Paul Ryan had little to say on topics specific to the commonwealth.

The election year spotlight shines on Centre College in Danville tonight, as Joe Biden and Paul Ryan meet for their only debate of the campaign. WKU Public Radio's Lisa Autry will be at Centre tonight and will have stories ready for tomorrow's Morning Edition broadcast. You can also hear NPR's live coverage of the Vice Presidential debate on WKU Public Radio starting at 8 pm central, 9 eastern.

The candidates for vice president will take center stage when they debate at Centre College next month, but the facility will have a place for others want to champion their causes during the event. Clarence Wyatt, who is co-chairman of the debate steering committee, told the Advocate-Messenger that others who want to make public speeches on Oct. 11 can sign up to take the stage at nearby Speakers Park.

When you visit the campus of Centre College in Danville, you can’t help but notice C6-H0 painted on buildings inside and out. The year was 1921 when Centre nabbed an athletic triumph that some called the greatest upset of the first-half of the 20th century.

WKU Public Radio's Lisa Autry recently traveled to Centre College in Danville to learn more about preperations for next month's Vice-Presidential debate. The only meeting between Joe Biden and Paul Ryan will take place October 11 at the small, liberal arts school in Boyle County.

Lisa spoke to debate organizers and Centre students about what it means to have the VP debate here in Kentucky. Our story will air Thursday morning on WKU Public Radio at 5:50 and 7:50am central time.

As Centre College prepares to host next month's vice presidential debate, several groups want to prepare Kentucky students for the event. The Secretary of State and the non-profit Kentucky Youth Advocates have partnered with students from Bellarmine University to create lesson plans for Kentucky teachers. The lessons focus on basic civics and include information on political debates.

This year's vice presidential debate at Centre College is shaping up to be a policy wonk's dream. Both Vice President Joe Biden and newly-minted Republican VP candidate Paul Ryan are longtime lawmakers who are steeped in policy.